India Black Ale (Black IPA)
Portsmouth Brewery

 

 

 

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a Loterbol tulip. Special thanks to jayli for this from our latest trade!

A: Pours black with shades of black cherry at the edges when held to the light. Carbonation was active, feeding the smallish khaki colored head briefly before it receded down to a thin collar that left some webby lace behind.

S: Charred malt in the forefront that leads the way for some pine tar and citrus hops. Roasted chocolate malt peeks out a bit too.

T: Much like the smell with more of an emphasis on the pineyness as it warms towards room temp. Some bittersweet/bakers chocolate and campfire ash come out during the middle and finish.

M: A brief flash of savory chocolate before the hops turn it spicy and astringent. Nice peppery burn in the finish that seems to tingle for ages.

O: A very nice ABA. I was hoping for more dramatic hoppiness and/or more of a rich chocolate presence. What really made this for me was how the mouthfeel kept my palate on its' toes.

Consumed at the brewery 6/11
Served in a pint glass

A: This beer pours a pitch black with a 2 finger of light brown head that recedes to a film. Film retains the whole way down. Nice spots of wispy lacing left on the glass.

S: Nose is lots of deep roasted and charred notes, and a good deal of citrus hops.

T: Taste is very charred at the forefront. Some roastiness comes through with bitter bakers chocolate. Finish takes on the grapefruit citrus hop flavoring with a bit more charred notes and a lingering bitter chocolate flavor.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, silky body with a dry finish.

O: Goes down easily, quite tasty, not too filling, mild kick, nice representation of style. I need to go to Portsmouth more often. I've only had a few of their brews and they do NOT disappoint.

A - Pours a black color with just a hint of brown in it. Nice finger of tan head that fades fairly quickly to a nice ring with some lacing left behind.

S - Really nice mix of floral/citrus hops and some sweet malty elements really blend nicely. Also just a touch of sweet fruit also mixed in.

T - Starts off with a nice lightly roasted malt flavor with some floral hop bitterness coming through. A little roasted flavor in the background. Through the middle a lot of bitterness comes through with the citrus/floral hops flavor getting some attention. The finish has more of the bitterness from the hops, and the carmel malt flavor comes in to balance nicely and make for a nice lingering taste.

M - Medium bodied and a nice amount of carbonation that matches well. Very nice and dry finish gives a very nice crisp feeling in the mouth afterwards.

D - Very drinkable. Lots of hops, but a very nice balance between the hops and the malts makes for a very solid beer. The roasted malt flavor that comes through really matches the hops excellently.

From 07/24/10 notes. Had at the cdc release.

a - Pours a black color with no carbonation and 2 inches of tan head.

s - Smells of pale malts, fruit, and citrus hops.

t - Tastes of caramel malts, pale fruity malts, and bready malts.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - A nice, malty IPA. Not a lot of hops but enjoyable none the less. Would try again.

Had both on tap and from a growler

A: Dark brown, almost black. 2 finger head that sticks around leaving very nice lacing

S: Lots of American hops, seemed to be of the C variety, Cascade, chinook, cent. etc. Hint of grainy malt in there as well.

T: First hit with a hoppy bitterness up front, Not as malty as the color would leave you to believe. Really no roasty notes to speak off(good imo), but their is a background note of some chocolate malt in there adding a nice non-sweet derived complexity. Lots of grapefruit, the dryness of the malt and bitterness of the hops really come together nicely. This IPA seems to be fermented rather dry really making the hops pop.

M: This is where Portsmouth sets themselves up way above many other breweries. The feel of their beers is something to marvel at. It just slides down your throat like silk.

D: I drank an entire growler, and still craved more. Would love to see this beer make it to the normal rotation, truley a fine elixr for any season.

Interesting beer here, this didn't really taste like and IPA to me, tasted more like a brown ale. A hoppy brown ale at that. Pours a dark brown, like a brown ale, has a hint of mocha or chocolate to it, definitely malty, with strong hops mixed in. I did like the beer, I don't think I would buy a bottle of it though. I had the sampler to try them all, and I was expecting a little more from the black IPA. I was expecting more IPA qualities. But overall a solid beer, and it does taste good.

Stopped by the pub today with Mr P for some lunch and brews... Hmmm... Black IPA is back on? Gots to try it!!

My Imperial pint glass was brimming with a deep, dark mahogany brew. Mostly opaque, some garnet was visible at the edges when held up to the light. Head was beige, creamy and lasting. Lacing in the glass was exemplary, almost Guinness-like in the pattern left behind. Aroma was a bit restrained, but some roasty malts and grapefruit did come forth. This bier was quite smooth on the tongue, and body was a medium-plus.

There was some very light sweetness here, followed soon thereafter by some top-shelf roasty traits. A little chocolate segues into the citrus. Now you get some rindy hops with a bit of resiny action going on. The roasty/resiny combo is a winner in this offering!! I had two Imperial pints, but easily could have had more had the car-keys not been in my hand. Thnx JP for the lunch and biers! Prosit!!

4.2
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | drink: 4.5

1254

In an imperial pint glass, this beer was a dark brown color with a medium white head. There was a little bit of lacing. It had a sweet malt and citrus aroma. Sweet, grapefruit taste. Nice balance. I was expecting more of a roasted malt taste, but that was nowhere to be found. Nice beer. Compare this to the other IPAs on tap at The Brewery.